Mel Gibson will produce a film about a Jewish hero

7 years ago

LOS ANGELES, U.S. – Mel Gibson, who has been accused of anti-Semitic remarks after being stopped for drunk driving, will produce a film on the life of Judas Maccabee, a Jewish hero. The idea is displeasing to some royal leaders of the Jewish community.

On Friday Alan Nierob the agent of Mel Gibson said that his client is discussing with the Warner Bros. studio.The actor hopes that the film project is developed by his company, Icon Productions.

Nierob says, the studio would like to see Mel Gibson directed the film. The latter, however, preferred to wait until all the pieces are in place before making a decision.

“It is the first choice for the realization of the studio, but until the agreement has been finalized and the screenplay is not finished, it will be his choice to make or not,” said the agent.

The writer of the film is Joe Eszterhas, to whom we owe the feature film “Basic Instinct” and “Fire Dance” (“Flashdance”).

The news of Mel Gibson’s participation in this project has angered some Jewish leaders. Judas Maccabeus, who is considered one of the greatest warriors in Jewish history, has inspired the festival of Hanukkah.

“We had hoped that Warner Bros. find someone better than Mel Gibson to make or even hold the poster in a film about the life of Judas Maccabee, a Jewish icon, “said the national director of the League against defamation, Abraham Foxman, in a statement sent Friday.

“As a hero of the Jews and as a universal hero in the fight he led in favor of religious freedom, Judah Maccabee deserves better,” said Mr. Foxman.

Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center said that “the fact of choice (Mel Gibson) as a director or star in a movie about Judas Maccabeus is comparable to choose (Bernard) to lead the Madoff Securities Commission of the United States or taking of white supremacy to embody Martin Luther King Jr. “.

“It’s just an insult to the Jews,” he decided.

Alan Nierob declined to comment on statements by leaders of the Jewish community. The studio Warner Bros had not responded Friday afternoon to request for clarification housed by the Associated Press.

Mel Gibson denies being anti-Semitic since his arrest in 2006. According to an incident report, the actor held anti-Semitic and sexist when he was in custody.